Summary:
Belarusian research centre offers milk with high lactoferrin content from genetically altered goats. The milk can be purified to obtain recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) protein. At present lactoferrin is approved as dietary supplement and lactoferrin supplementation is studied for treatment of various diseases. The centre offers partnership under distribution services agreement, joint venture agreement or manufacturing agreement.
Description:
Lactoferrin (LF) is a metal binding glycoprotein found in milk of various mammalian species, including humans, bovines, cows, goats, horses, etc. Colostrum, the first milk produced after a baby is born, is high in lactoferrin content (up to 9,8 g/l). The biological functions proposed for LF include protection against microbial infection, enhanced intestinal iron absorption, promotion of cell growth, regulation of myelopoiesis and modulation of inflammatory responses.
However, production of LF is severely limited by the available amount of human milk, the major source of native human lactoferrin (nhLF). Recombinant lactoferrin (rLF) or recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) can be made by recombinant expression or direct production in genetically altered animals, plants, fungi, bacteria or through chemical synthesis.
On the world market there is no efficient and economical way to produce human LF (hLF). Instead lactoferrin from bovine milk (bLF) has been approved by the authorities as a dietary supplement, but bLF amino acids are only 67% identical to hLF, which limits its therapeutic efficiency.
Belarusian research organization offers milk with high lactoferrin content from genetically altered goats. The milk can be purified to obtain recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF), for example, by cation-exchange chromatography, or to produce whey (lactoserum).
Obtained rhLF is identical to native human LF and can be used:
* as a dietary supplement or
* in medicine, as it shows antimicrobial, antinflammatory, antiparasitic, antifugal, anticancer properties and lately a potential for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
Belarusian research centre:
* offers milk in frozen state to industrial partners under distribution services agreement;
* propose joint venture agreement to industrial partners with the goal to up-scale milk production. The Belarusian partner's investment is flock of genetically altered goats;
* offers fresh milk or rhLF to industrial partners or research institutions under manufacturing agreement.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
Belarusian research centre:
* offers milk in frozen state to industrial partners under distribution services agreement. The centre has accumulated several tonnes of goat milk that is stored is frozen state. The partner's role is to acquire and market the milk to interested parties (dietary supplement manufacturers, hospitals, etc.).
* propose joint venture agreement to industrial partners. The partner's role is to provide sales and financial contribution to up-scale milk production;
* offers fresh milk or rhLF to industrial partners or research institutions under manufacturing agreement. The availability of fresh milk is limited by the flock of goats. The partner's role is to acquire milk. Potential partners could be manufacturers of dietary supplements or research institutions performing studies of rhLF properties/applications. The Belarusian research centre can also supply rhLF protein in powder form but with limited purity.
Stage of Development:
Already on the market
IPR Status:
Secret Know-how,Exclusive Rights
External code:
BOBY20210709001
